Smith & Wesson Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD

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The fifth version of Smith & Wesson’s Spec Series pistols has been in my stable of firearms for several months. It appeared in multiple episodes of “Handguns” TV and was a favorite of the cast, so when it came time to officially evaluate the gun for the magazine, I was no stranger to the Spec Series V. I knew it to be a smooth-shooting, stylish 9mm that stands out in a crowded field.

The Spec Series V doesn’t stand out just because of its performance potential, although this gun certainly shoots and handles well (more on that later). It’s also one of the best-looking factory 9mms currently available.

The steel frame and slide sport a matte gray Armornite finish. Other components—the barrel, steel optic cover plate, slide stop, magazine release and steel magazine well—feature a multi-hue PVD finish. The mag well and other components appear blue under most light, but the finish has a prismatic effect that makes it look purple or yellow depending on the angle of the light.

The Spec Series V is stylish, but it’s also a very practical pistol. The steel slide has lightening cuts and aggressive front and rear slide serrations. There are also a pair of “ears” on the rear of the slide that offer an anchor point when cycling the action. The M2.0 spiral-fluted 1:10-twist barrel measures 4.9 inches long and comes with a Strike Industries compensator installed. A thread protector is included with each pistol.

Frame, Grip, & Optics

With a frame made from machined steel, the Spec Series V is heavier than Smith & Wesson’s polymer-frame guns, but that weight is designed to keep the gun planted under recoil and allow for faster follow-up shots.

Four grip inserts—small, medium, medium-large and large—are included for a secure, comfortable grip, and there’s a black checkered insert in the front of the grip. This is an S&W Performance Center gun, so the flat-face, bladed aluminum trigger is tuned and offers a crisp break and short reset.

Most semiauto pistols are cut for optics, but no other optic plate matches the panache of this Smith & Wesson. The plate features a blue PVD finish and a prominent M&P logo. But if you remove the plate you can mount most pistol optics on the market using the supplied C.O.R.E. system, which includes a variety of polymer mounting plates and screws that work with most red dots.

For those who prefer to run irons, the gun features M&P Tall C.O.R.E. green night sights. These will co-witness with most optics for the best of both worlds.

Accuracy

The Spec Series V comes in a hard case with three 23-round extended metal magazines. Also included are the C.O.R.E. plates and screws, a thread protector, a limited-edition S&W Spec Series challenge coin and a folding knife.

With its metal frame, nearly five-inch barrel and included compensator, you might expect that this gun shoots fast. You’d be right. I shot the Spec Series alongside two other 9mm autoloaders—one with a compensator, one without—and the Smith & Wesson was the smoothest-shooting gun of the bunch.

Muzzle rise is minimal, and the trigger is smooth and offers a short reset. The Spec Series V feels like a race gun and will punch holes or ring steel plates as quickly as your skills allow. Reliability is excellent, with the robust external steel extractor taking a substantial bite on the rim of each spent case.

Accuracy was very good with the various loads tested. From the bench at 25 yards, groups measured between 2.0 and 2.5 inches on average while shooting with a Viridian optic.

The Brass Tax

Off the bench the gun is outstanding and fun to shoot, and with a 23-round magazine capacity and robust, machined components you could certainly make the case that this blinged-out autoloader makes a suitable bear defense handgun with modern loads like Hornady’s Backcountry Defense and Federal’s Solid Core, both of which are available in 9mm.

My complaints with this gun are few. The trigger is good with a consistent break weight of four pounds, but I don’t think it’s quite as good as the flat-face trigger in the new SIG P320 M.O.D. Also, the C.O.R.E. system plates are made of thin plastic, and while I’ve never had issues with plastic plates, some shooters prefer metal. The metal frame and grip are also fairly large for concealed carry. And this gun isn’t cheap; suggested retail is $1,699.

It isn’t cheap, but it looks great, shoots wonderfully and boasts a whopping magazine capacity. It will also appeal to the Smith & Wesson collector because it is a limited-edition pistol that we may never see again—although it was still for sale as we went to press. Its disappearance as a cataloged gun would be a shame because this is an excellent 9mm.

Smith & Wesson Spec Series V M&P 9 Metal HD Specs

• Type: striker-fired semiauto
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: three 23-round mags supplied
• Barrel: 4.9 in. w/Strike Industries compensator
• OAL/Height/Width: 8.8/5.8/1.7 in.
• Weight: 40 oz.
• Construction: gray Armornite-finished steel slide and frame; blue PVD accents; polymer grip w/four interchangeable palm swells
• Trigger: flat-face aluminum; 4.0 lb. pull (measured)
• Sights: suppressor-height green night sights; C.O.R.E. optics system
• Price: $1,699
• Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson, smith-wesson.com

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